A/N:I just couldn't resist. Just one last Slappy tale, starring Mr. Wood.
Wood's Revenge
Lindy and Kris Powell were sitting together in the school cafeteria and both looked miserable. The two blue-eyed and blonde-haired twins were living a young life of horror. Two evil living dummies had entered their life and turned it upside down. One was recently crushed, thanks to a steamroller driven by a construction worker, but the other was alive. He was alive and just as troublesome and evil as his destroyed brother.
Lindy normally kept her long blonde hair in a tidy ponytail. but her long hair was let down and was a frizzled mess and her blue eyes were very tired-looking and sad. Kris' shorter pixie-cut hair (so she and her sister could be told apart) was untidy too, and her blue-eyes were just as tired-looking.
"I don't think I can take anymore of him, Lindy." moaned Kris, as she slowly spun the mashed potatoes on her lunch tray.
"Neither can I," Lindy agreed woefully, sipping her milk. "How is he even alive? How did this happen?"
"I think that spell that woke up Mr. Wood, woke up Slappy too," replied Kris, pushing her tray away. "They must be made by the same sorcerer or whatever."
Lindy scoffed and frowned. The frustration of life with Slappy, the events before with Mr. Wood, and all the fights with Kris had overwhelmed Lindy. She now glared angrily at her twin sister, fuming.
"This is all your fault, Kris." she barked through gritted teeth.
"Oh yeah, like I was supposed to know Mr. Wood and Slappy are both evil living-" Kris hissed, but was cut off by Lindy.
"No not that!" Lindy snapped curtly. "You just had to be a ventriloquist like me and had to do everything like me!"
"Well excuse me for wanting to be like my twin sister!" Kris argued back. "You just can't be nice to me!"
"Oh you did it to try to outdo me!" snapped Lindy, in a high-pitched voice.
Kris just looked away in guilt.
"We don't have to do everything the same, Kris!" continued Lindy angrily. "Sometimes, I just want to do things on my own."
"Oh you just like doing things better than me yourself!" bickered Kris, crossing her arms. "I bet you weren't even that successful with Slappy, you just made all of it up to spite me!"
"Like you wouldn't do the same if you found Slappy first!" Lindy shot back. "I can't help that I'm a good ventriloquist! And besides you're the one that always has to be better, Little Miss Perfect!"
Lindy's face was full of venom towards Kris. But she subsided the fury long enough to mock her, and to look mockingly snooty.
"Oh look at me, Miss Goody-Goody-Two-Shoes-Kris!" mocked Lindy, in a nasty tone. "I get Straight A's and kiss-up just to show I'm better than my sister and every body else, but really I stink at everything I do!"
Kris' blue eyes began to fill with fury, and her face turned bright red. But then a different feeling began to wash over. Was it - remorse? Could it be?
"Stop. Just stop. Lindy, what are we doing?" asked Kris, shrugging.
"What do you mean?" asked Lindy, raising an eyebrow.
"I mean - this," explained Kris, motioning and pointing back and forth to her and Lindy. "We need a plan to stop Slappy. Not fight over and over."
Lindy slunk back in her seat, and sighed.
"We worked together to take down Mr. Wood, didn't we?" asked Kris in a low tone. "We can beat Slappy too. We can make an awesome team!"
"Okay, but how?" asked Lindy, throwing her arms up. "Dad absolutely has forbidden us from speaking to the construction workers. And besides I'm grounded for the pranks I pulled on you and the ones Slappy is doing too. It's hopeless."
Kris angrily pounded the table and covered her face in anger.
"Why do you always have to argue?!" wailed Kris, exasperated. "You didn't even thank me for the compliment! That's what I mean! You went straight into telling me that I'm wrong! You just can't be nice to me and listen, can you?"
Lindy paused and saw that her sister was just as tired of Slappy as she was. And was really trying to be nice. She tried to think of an argument, of someway to refute Kris' point and outburst. But Kris was absolutely right.
"Okay, I did do that. Sorry," sighed Lindy, now holding her sister's hand at the table. "We did make a great team that night with Mr. Wood. It's just I don't know how we can do it with all that in our way, Kris. That's all."
Kris looked up and expected her sister to be holding in a laugh or for her sister to give her a mocking look. But Kris looked at her distressed and exhausted sister too. And for once they agreed on something. Teamwork.
"Let's just be honest with each other, first. Let's just get everything out, and talk before we plan. Okay?" said Kris, holding her pinky out. "I'm calling a truce. If we can't get on the same page, we can't beat that dummy."
"Truce." replied Lindy, crossing her pinky with Kris'.
"I'll go first, okay?" Kris decided calmly. She closed her eyes and then let out a deep breath.
"I just think you're really cool," explained Kris. "Everybody thinks you're the cooler twin. But it's not my fault schoolwork is really easy to me, and I do my best with it. I just want Mom and Dad to be happy. That's all."
A small wet tear formed in Lindy's eye, but she wiped it away quickly.
"Wow Kris, I didn't know that," Lindy said softly. "I thought you did it to prove you're better than me. That's what made me so mad. I don't always like knowing who's better at this or that."
"No, I don't feel it all of the time," replied Kris. "Sometimes I just wanted people to think I was cool too. But I have to admit, I was super jealous of you and Slappy. Now that was one of those times for sure."
"Maybe if I wasn't showing off so much, you wouldn't have been." added Lindy, slowly.
"And maybe I handled my jealousy wrong," sighed Kris. "I should've been happier for you."
"And I shouldn't have pranked you." breathed Lindy, looking very guilty. "Maybe I should've tried to talk to you. And not been so mean too."
"I'm sorry I was so jealous, Lindy." Kris apologized solemnly.
"I'm sorry I pranked you and was so mean." apologized Lindy, very sadly.
The Powell Twins then got up and hugged each other in the cafeteria. Both girls had forgot how good it felt to finally be back on the same page, after all the time of competing and bickering. But after a scolding from a teacher, the twins felt it tactful to sit back down at their table.
"That felt - good." said Lindy with a smile.
"It did," agreed Kris reciprocating the same smile. "Now let's come up with a plan to stop Slappy - together."
"Let's steal one of the construction workers' hammers and bash that dummy's head in." blurted out Lindy, darkly and suddenly.
For the first time in days, Kris laughed - and that prompted Lindy to laugh as well. Both just laughing in exasperation and at their crazy situation.
"I mean it's a wonderful idea," said Kris, chuckling a little. "But dad forbid us from going near the construction zone."
"I can probably convince Cody to steal one for us." thought Lindy.
"Cody's kinda mad at us right now," Kris said in a guilty tone. "He got sprayed with Wood's vomit and he didn't like your pranks. Plus he thinks we're weird."
"Dang," moaned Lindy. "Maybe dad has a hammer we can borrow."
"Oh yeah!" thought Kris excitedly. "Dad's toolbox in the garage!"
"So I guess we're gonna have to fight another dummy again, won't we?" asked Lindy, glumly. "It's not like Slappy will stand still to let us just bash his head."
"I doubt it too," sighed Kris. "But we have to try somehow."
Suddenly, Kris clutched her head hard and then Lindy did the same. A sharp pain began to sear through the twins' minds
"Ow!" called out Lindy in low murmur. "Why do we keep getting these headaches?"
"Who knows?" Kris croaked, still clutching her head. "Mom thinks it's sinus."
"I think it was that gnarly smell from Wood," suggested Lindy, as the pain subsided. "That funk is STILL lingering around the cul-de-sac. The construction workers keep complaining about it too."
"Maybe it takes a while for it go away or something," said Kris, as her pain now subsided too. "Slappy probably knows."
"Well I'm not gonna ask that creep!" shuddered Lindy.
"Yeah, me neither," shrugged Kris as she finally took a bite of her food. "Let's just bash his brains out with a hammer tonight."
The next day...
To avoid getting their parents in any trouble, both twins wore their favorite tracksuits with matching jackets and shorts on the mild summer's day. They both gingerly sat down at the table, feeling sore and even more tired than the day before. It was a rough night with the living dummy for the two twins, after their plan failed miserably - and painfully.
"How's your arm, Lindy?" asked Kris, favoring her hand.
"I can still lift things, so that dummy's bite didn't hurt me too bad." moaned Lindy loftily.
"I think he bites harder than Mr. Wood did," groaned Kris, as she held the cold milk carton to her neck. "And I think he's stronger than Wood too."
"He's like twice as rude as him too," grumbled Lindy. "I gave him a funny fast-talking, sleaze-ball type of character when I had him. I don't get why he couldn't be that way."
"When you had him..." murmured Kris, thoughtfully. And then, she had an idea. A terrible and aggravating idea, but it was their only hope.
"Lindy, I think I got a good idea this time." sighed Kris, clasping her sister's hand on the table.
"Don't hurt yourself, Kris." joked Lindy, with a smile.
Kris covered her face and snickered.
"I needed that," chuckled Kris. "But seriously, I have a plan. It's temporary and crazy, but it'll buy us time."
"What is it?" asked Lindy, curiously.
"You found Slappy, you named Slappy, you performed with Slappy, and you took care of him too." she explained to a perplexed Lindy.
"Yeah, I guess so." Lindy said, sounding disappointed.
"Maybe you can buy us time by talking to Slappy!" suggested Kris. "He was happy about his name, remember?"
"Yeah, right after he smacked me and called me a slave." hissed Lindy, caressing her cheek.
"Well he kicked me in the shin to make me kneel before him," mused Kris. "So I think I get your pain. But, maybe if we play his game we can buy time for a real plan."
"How?" replied Lindy, still puzzled.
"Maybe you can remind him that you two were successful together, and that you loved him at some point," pondered Kris. "Mr. Bronson talks about using diplomacy and compromising when we're being group leaders for projects in Social Studies, maybe we need to do that for Slappy."
"So we just become slaves?" asked Lindy with a disgusted look upon her tired face.
Suddenly the two had another bad headache, as they both clutched their heads once more in pain. The pain was even more searing and throbbing than their headache just yesterday. The two sisters could barely take it, as they groaned in agony.
"I can't take any more of that," moaned Kris, squinting at Lindy. "My head's starting to not hurt so much now. How about you?"
"Yeah, mine too" murmured Lindy, wearily. "I swear our cul-de-sac is a biohazard zone or something. And that's why we're having headaches."
"It actually might be. That smell hasn't left yet, and I think mom and dad are having headaches too." complained Kris. "But like I was saying, we can buy time until we come up with a plan. We'll play his game. Or better yet, I'll play his game and you two boss me around."
"B-b-but Kris!" spluttered Lindy, her blue eyes wide-open in shock. "But you'll get in so much more trouble if he demands a prank or something. And I don't want to boss you around."
"Oh I'll just volunteer around the school and keep my grades up," Kris said, shrugging. "Besides, it's not like it can get any worse than this and it'll be temporary. We'll pretend that we hate each other which might keep him calmer and less violent and destructive."
"Kris, won't it be easier if we both did what he said?" asked Lindy, hopefully.
"He likes you a little more than me," answered Kris solemnly. "He hated Mr. Wood, remember? He told us that day he surprised us. And given that I was Mr. Wood's owner, naturally he'd hate me too. Plus he bosses me around way more than you."
"Kris, I don't want to be mean-"
"It's temporary," replied Kris curtly. "It'll buy us time and keep Slappy at bay."
"Okay," murmured Lindy in a low tone. "Okay, just to buy time. But know I don't mean anything I'll be saying. And I love you, okay?"
"I love you too, Lindy." Kris said as he and her sister reached to each others' hands.
Later that night...
The plan worked, but too well for poor Kris Powell. She laid on the floor staring to the ceiling as Slappy took her bed and ordered for her to sleep on the floor. His cruel words flew in and out of her mind.
"Slaves sleep on the floor!" he had barked at her with malice in his cerulean eyes.
Lindy, while in-character, tried to vouch for Kris to be able to sleep on the couch in the living room, at least. But the evil dummy had no love or compassion for the twin who dared play or perform with Mr. Wood in any fashion.
When the dummy was fast asleep, snoring loudly for a little dummy, Lindy passed a small note she wrote secretly to Kris and rolled over to sleep. Kris slowly and quietly unfolded the paper and began to read.
"I hope nothing I said tonight hurt your feelings, sis. I really tried to change his mind, but that little creep wouldn't budge an inch. I wish I was as strong as you are. I really really hate this. We'll talk at lunch tomorrow about another plan. I love you, Kris."
Kris tucked the note in her pocket on her pajamas, and let out a faint sigh. But that sigh caught the attention of Slappy who turned his big round head over which caused Kris to jump. She felt like his cold eyes were staring directly into her soul.
"Why so jumpy, slave?" rasped Slappy suspiciously with a raised brow.
"I just wasn't expecting that." Kris said calmly, to not anger or raise the dummy's suspicion further.
"Well I'm trying to sleep over here!" growled Slappy. "Keep your loud breathing to yourself!"
"Yes," said Kris obediently. "Sorry, Slappy."
"You will be if I hear anymore noise!" snarled the dummy. And then he angrily rolled back over in Kris' bed and went back to sleep in a huff.
Kris rolled her eyes and then eventually drifted off to sleep, and soon she began to dream. Lately her dreams had been something akin to a fever dream she'd have if she had the flu. They were strange to the twin. She'd dream of being a clown shopping at a Flea Market, a waitress being forced to work at a restaurant owned by a giant fish, being chased my a giant refrigerator - but this dream was different. There was a flash of white, and she was in her house. And surprisingly Lindy was there and it was a rainy day that day. A familiar rainy day.
Kris and walked downstairs into the living room where a confused Lindy sat, looking confused.
"Kris, what's going on?" asked Lindy looking around frantically. "Where's mom and dad? Where's Barky?"
Before Kris could answer, they heard a faint "Arf! Arf!".
Kris and Lindy both ran to the window and saw their little black Scottish terrier running around a mound of dirt at the construction zone outside, barking excitedly.
Kris and Lindy looked at each other horror, because the mound began to glow green. The twins had a horrible feeling about that mound, and the feeling grew worse when Barky began to dig.
"We gotta get Barky, now!" shouted Lindy.
"Let's go!" cried Kris.
Kris and Lindy ran to the front door frantically to try to stop their dog, but it was too late. By the time the sisters got to Barky, the little terrier finished digging the hole, and scurried away quickly. Kris and Lindy stared in horror as a jet of green light shot from the ground and the air around them became heavier.
A little peach hand then raised from the hole and grasped the ground, soon another hand raised and grabbed the cold and muddy earth, and began to claw and pull. Kris and Lindy went pale, their body began to tremble, and the arms had grew bumpy with goosebumps running up to their shoulders and down their backs. For out of the hole, emerged a muddy and wily looking...Mr. Wood.
Mr. Wood's red and green striped flannel shirt was muddy and clashed with the gray and dreary day. His blue jeans were tore and his red hair was dirty. His freckled face was twisted into an evil grin, and green eyes were full of fury. Oh, he looked more horrifying than ever to Lindy and Kris who were frozen in fear.
Kris and Lindy couldn't utter a sound, they looked around for help. But there were no construction workers, no mom or dad, Barky had even disappeared. It was the twins and the unhinged Mr. Wood with only the blustery and stormy weather to keep them company. The two twins grabbed each other and stood together in fright.
Mr. Wood stepped forward, his muddy white sneaker splashing on the ground. The twins shut their eyes, and prepared for the worst. But Mr. Wood stopped, tilted his head back and giggled a nasty laugh.
"IIIIIII'M BAAAAAAACK!" he screeched nastily and obnoxiously.
Lindy, still clutching Kris, spoke up first. "H-h-how?"
"I told you two that I had powers you stupid girl!" the dummy rasped. He then opened his long jaw, and breathed in some air. "Ah, the fresh air of a nice rainy day."
"The air!" croaked Kris. "Your spirit is in the air!"
"Ding! Ding! Ding!" mocked Mr. Wood. "Correct! Well, half-correct anyway. More like my essence."
"Why? Why can't you just go away?!" moaned Kris, sadly. "Haven't you done enough?!"
"Take that up with sorcerer." laughed Mr. Wood. "He's calling the shots now."
"Huh?" asked both Kris and Lindy together.
"It's simple really," snorted the deranged dummy. "Hmmm...how can I explain it to a couple of dumb Barbies like yourselves?"
The Powell Twins both had indignant looks cross their faces, but felt it tactful to not anger Mr. Wood - knowing what happens when the dummy gets angry.
"You know how a wasp dies, it secretes a pheromone that'll attract other wasps to attack?" he asked tapping his freckled chin. "Well in this case, my essence is the pheromone and I'm the wasp!"
He tilted his head back and laughed more.
"So, your...essence is causing this and our headaches too?" asked Kris, now more curious and able to form words.
"You're a lot smarter than I thought!" mocked Mr. Wood. "That's right! The essence from my destroyed body lingers for days, maybe even weeks! Then it punishes those unfortunate enough to breathe it in. It just depends on how close enough you are to breathe it in. And the more you breathe in, the more you see of me. Call it a price to pay for destroying one of his finest creations."
Kris and Lindy felt defeated. The remembered not being too far from this dummy when he was ran over by the steamroller. And they remember taking in a lot of the stench Wood's destroyed body left behind. Mr. Wood and Slappy were now both taking turns in making their lives miserable. Kris jerked away from Lindy and stepped forward. She put on the bravest face she could muster and stared directly into the glassy and devious-looking eyes of the dummy.
"I brought you to life, and I caught you that night we fought," muttered Kris. She then placed her hand on her chest. "It's my fault you're just a spirit. If you're gonna punish someone or anyone, punish me. Leave Lindy alone, please Mr. Wood."
"Kris wait-!" cried Lindy, but was cut off by Mr. Wood.
"Pfft!" scoffed Mr. Wood, rolling his eyes. "You both will suffer soon enough. But now I'm after bigger fish! I want that wretched Slappy to die!"
Lindy now stepped forward. "W-what?"
"You know they say it's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt!" snarled Mr. Wood angrily. "I say it slower for you, I-want-to-kill-Slappy! Get the picture, idiot?!"
Lindy was furious and about to charge Mr. Wood, but Kris held out an arm and stopped her.
"Why do you want to kill Slappy?" asked Kris calmly.
"Because I call the shots!" snapped Mr. Wood, frowning. "I'm the superior dummy! I was the first, and I'm the best! I might be on borrowed time, but I can not and will not rest in peace until that cheap copy of me is dead!"
Kris and Lindy looked to each other. The twins had heard the phrase "twin-telepathy" before as a passing joke from their father. But in that moment, Lindy and Kris truly thought the same idea.
"Help us kill Slappy, Mr. Wood." suggested Lindy. "Please."
"If you help us kill Slappy, we'll do whatever we can to make your last days worth while," put in Kris. "That way when your essence is gone, you can rest in peace happily."
Mr. Wood looked bewildered. To Kris and Lindy, it had to be the first time servitude was ever offered to the dummy.
"That disgusting snake must've really bitten you two fleshies bad, huh?" giggled Mr. Wood mockingly. "I'll think about it."
The next morning was quiet outside of Slappy's insults, and Lindy's fake insults to Kris. Nothing was said at breakfast, nothing was said on the walk to school, or even during the passing periods. It wasn't until the two sat down across from each other in the cafeteria at their own table that Lindy broke the silence.
"We had the same dream, didn't we?" she murmured to a solemn Kris.
"Yeah...we did." Kris moaned. But before either sister could say anything else -
"Hello Barbies! Can I join ya?!"
Lindy, mouth agape, turned to Kris' side. Kris looked down on her right and clasped her mouth before she could scream. Mr. Wood was sitting down next to her. Grinning mischievously to the girls.
Kris lost her balance and fell out of her seat, much to the amusement of her peers and a giggling Mr. Wood.
"Are you okay?" asked their balding and larger math teacher, Mr. Holly.
"I'm fine," Kris groaned, as Mr. Holly helped her up to her seat.
"Who let a big bald ape become a teacher?" screeched Mr. Wood.
Kris and Lindy quickly turned to the dummy, who was in a giggling fit in his seat.
"What are you girls looking at?" asked Mr. Holly, perplexed.
Kris and Lindy looked to each other than back to Mr. Holly.
"Nothing!" they both said innocently.
"Uh-huh," replied Mr. Holly, eyeing the girls suspiciously. "Well enjoy your lunch. It's pizza day!"
He then left the two girls alone with Mr. Wood. Kris and Lindy gulped.
"How-" asked Lindy but Mr. Wood cut her off.
"The more of my essence you breathe, the more you see of me." Mr. Wood reminded triumphantly. "It's like I told you two! I have powers! I have powers you couldn't even dream of. Oh yeah...you did!"
"My teacher told me about mirages and hallucinations once," said Kris, as the Spirit of Mr. Wood laughed. "Are you a mirage or hallucination that only we can see or something?"
"Oh I'm a very real hallucination so-to-speak," the dummy rasped. "In fact, I'm riiiiight here!"
He pointed to the side of Kris' temple and suddenly she and Lindy's head began to ache.
"Okay, I get the point!" Kris grunted.
"Oh yeah, that's right, I can't have my slaves weak before they help me exact the revenge of a lifetime!" laughed Mr. Wood with a snort.
"You're going to help us?" asked Lindy shocked, as the pain subsided.
"I'm a ghost, you idiot!" snarled Mr. Wood. "I can't really do anything of the sort! But I can tell you how to defeat Slappy without his essence making everyone see his ugly mug."
"How do we defeat Slappy?" asked Kris eagerly. "Please tell us."
Lindy leaned in eager to listen.
"Remember when you guys spoke my spell to try to kill me?" rasped Mr. Wood, frowning a little.
"I think so?" replied Kris, not able to remember. Admittedly, the events of that horrible night and fight with Mr. Wood caused Kris so much distress she tried blocking that memory for days.
"Slappy was brought to life by a different sorcerer who wasn't as skilled as mine," explained Mr. Wood solemnly. "You see, we were carved from the same coffin and have same the spell to wake us up, but we are not possessed by the same sorcerer. Therefore, the way to put us to sleep is different."
"What's the way then?" asked Lindy, impatiently.
"You have to speak the words that have awakened him - backwards." the spirit of the dummy rasped, looking very serious.
"Oh that'll be easy!" chirped Lindy in delight.
"You've met that cretin," rasped Mr. Wood darkly. "You really think he'll let you reach inside his jacket and pull out the words to try? Did Mattel leave the brains outta that plastic head, Babs?!"
"You-!" snapped Lindy, wanting to smack the dummy. Kris palmed Lindy's hand on the table, and with her free hand motioned for Lindy to calm down.
"Relax," she commanded to her sister. Lindy calmed down and Kris turned to Mr. Wood. "Are you sure that is the way to defeat Slappy?"
"No. I'm just here at this stupid school, wasting the last days of my ghostly life talking to a couple of idiots for no reason." he sneered rudely to the Powells.
Kris sighed and Lindy rolled her eyes.
"Okay fine, we'll try it tonight." grumbled Kris, holding back a retort.
"Goodie," said Mr. Wood flatly. "And then I can rest. I have no need for favors from you two. There's nothing you slaves could do anyway."
"Wait, you're going to let us off?" asked Kris, surprised, She couldn't believe her ears. "Just like that?"
"I didn't say that! But I have no body, and soon enough I'll be gone so there's nothing you two slaves truly can do," snorted Mr. Wood. "Besides, watching you two meat bags being tortured by Slappy is a good start of punishment to me!"
Mr. Wood then screeched a laugh, as the girls held their ears.
It was a strange day and walk back to their house with the spirit of a dead living dummy following them around and making rude comments and jokes all day. It was a wonderfully beautiful, summer's day. Birds were chirping, there was the sound of lawn's being cut, kids playing, and even the smell of barbecues. But the poor Powell Twins couldn't enjoy it. Even during the walk home Mr. Wood was being insufferable to the twins. But the twins had another problem, coping with the maniacal dummy that choked their dog and caused mayhem. The tasks rang around the twins' heads all day. Defeat Slappy, deal with Wood. Defeat Slappy, deal with Wood. Defeat Slappy, deal with Wood. Lindy couldn't stand it any longer.
"Mr. Wood, why are you the way that you are?" she asked him curiously.
The spirit then stopped, and floated in his spot.
"I'm over seventy-years-old," rasped Mr. Wood in a not so gruff tone, catching up with the twins. "No fleshbag has ever asked me that before."
Kris and Lindy looked to each other, and once again thought the same thought.
"Being good is boring!" groaned Mr. Wood with a pained expression. "It's more fun to be bad. I like being baaaaaad to the bone."
He then snickered a little laugh to himself. Kris then cut in, for she had an idea. "What exactly did you want with us when you were alive?"
"To be my slaves." he responded quickly with squinted eyes.
"But to do what exactly?" asked Lindy next. "Your brother wants us to wait on him hand and foot, and wants to rule or whatever."
Mr. Wood then stared at the two blankly. "You know, I never thought about that before. Nobody ever obeyed me for over seventy years."
"You know, I thought you were so cool when I first got you." said Kris, trying to muster a friendly tone. "If you were nice and alive, I probably would've just taken care of you too. Like learning dummy maintenance or something. We could've been soooo much better than my sister."
Lindy shot Kris a scowl, but Kris gave Lindy a wink. A wink that said, "Go along with it.".
"For sure," agreed Lindy, trying to sound convincing. "I mean those jokes you said about the Millers were pretty funny actually."
"They were, weren't they?!" guffawed Mr. Wood, laughing loudly. "Those old bags' feelings were so hurt!"
"Plus your outfit was kinda cooler than Slappy's anyway." added Kris. "You kinda had a modern look to you."
"Eh, I've had the same outfit since the 80's." grunted Mr. Wood. "But I like it. It's much better than that cheap tux, that idiot wears."
"In a lot of ways, you really ARE better than Slappy." Lindy said convincingly. "I mean I doubt Slappy could puke on people like that."
"Oh he can," smirked Wood darkly. "But I just have better aim! I splattered those idiots really good!"
The dummy once again laughed a screeching laugh at his insane behavior.
"I'm sure you hate the idea of friends," sighed Kris, exasperated from the spirit's maniacal laughter. "But maybe somehow, someway we can all be something like it until the day your spirit is gone. Don't you want to be happy, in your last days?"
"You two do have some spunk," Mr. Wood rasped, but he nearly sounded normal - almost even human. "We'll discuss that after Slappy is gone. If you two are even still alive."
Before the twins could even ask what the dummy meant, they were soon at their house and the wretched stench of the cul-de-sac filled their noses again. The smell was so bad it felt like their noses hurt. It was so bad that the construction workers had halted construction until the foul smell was gone. The Spirit of Mr. Wood mockingly breathed in the air through his nose.
"Gotta love that fresh summer's air!" he mused, cackling.
Much to their disappointment, Mr. and Mrs. Powell were once again gone. And soon it would be the two girls all alone with the Spirit and Essence of Mr. Wood and Slappy the Dummy. Both girls felt like their stomach was filled with butterflies trying to escape.
"What's the plan?" asked Lindy as they stared at their house.
"We'll play it like normal," explained Kris. "I'll go make his sandwich, then when I get to the room, we'll say that you have a performance coming up and you want his tux dry-cleaned. I'll take it his jacket, grab the card, and read the words backwards."
"Oooooh, clever plan." sneered Mr. Wood, clapping his hands together.
"What if he gets angry?" asked Lindy, shakily. "He might put up a fight."
"We'll beat him, together." willed Kris, holding out her pinky.
Lindy nodded and locked her pinky with Kris'. Then with a heavy sigh, Kris opened the door to the house. Mr. Wood then began to rudely stick his finger in wide mouth and make wretch and choking noises as he followed them in.
"Slappy! We're home!" called Lindy, as she threw her backpack on the couch.
"Lindy!" screeched Slappy from their bedroom. "Come up here! Kris, make me a sandwich!"
Kris nodded to Lindy as she began the walk upstairs. Kris then walked into the newly painted kitchen, throwing her backpack down on the linoleum. Barky then scurried up to the back screen-door barking and wagging his tail excitedly at the sight of one of his favorite humans being home.
"That dog is still as annoying as ever." grunted Mr. Wood, who had floated with Kris into the kitchen.
Kris said nothing as she quickly and frantically made a ham and cheese sandwich for the dummy.
"He even sucks at sandwich taste," snorted Mr. Wood, turning his nose up at the sandwich. "He's an even bigger failure of a creation than that Mary-Ellen!"
"You might want to keep it down," whispered Kris, not even wanting to know who 'Mary-Ellen' was. "What if he sees you?"
"He can't see me." chuckled Mr. Wood, darkly. "I'm in your guys' heads. Not his."
Kris sighed, put the sandwich together and brought it upstairs on the small saucer from the kitchen cabinet.
She then made a slow walk through the living room, then up the stairs to her room. Her stomach once again felt like butterflies were desperately trying to fly out and escape her body before mayhem ensued. Deep down, Kris knew that Slappy was going to go berserk. But then she turned and saw the floating spirit of Mr. Wood following her again. She then turned and frowned.
"If I have to put up with Wood for a few more days, I'll do it Slappy-free. Fight or not." she thought.
She walked into the bedroom, and was surprised to not see Slappy, but Lindy on her bed looking nervous.
"Lindy, where's Slap-" she began to ask, but was cutoff by a cold hand grabbing her leg from under bed and tripping her.
Kris hit the floor with a loud thud. The sandwich along with the saucer flew out of her hands and landed by the window.
Slappy awkwardly crawled from under the bed and scurried onto Kris' back and wrapped his arms around her neck, pinning her down. Lindy got up to confront Slappy, but the dummy turned his big round head towards her quickly.
"Unless you want to be in a permanent neck brace like she will be, don't take another step!" snarled Slappy.
The Spirit of Mr. Wood was snickering at the predicament, but Lindy ignored him she was more focused on her sister and Slappy.
"Slappy!" cried Lindy, worriedly. "Let her go! Please!"
"Oh I heard you two conspirators outside! You're in cahoots with that idiot Mr. Wood!" screeched Slappy, his grip tightening around Kris' neck. "I knew there something weird about that stench outside!"
"That's true, okay!" wailed Lindy. "But don't punish Kris! Hurt me! I made her beg Dad for a dummy! It's my fault Mr. Wood is here!"
"I'll deal with you, when I'm done stretching Kris' neck like putty." rasped Slappy. "But don't worry. You can survive without a week of meals."
"Uh-oooh..." mused Mr. Wood who just floated and smugly watched the chaos unfold.
Slappy's painted face was full of rage and malice. Kris was in trouble, Mr. Wood wasn't helping, and Lindy couldn't think of any words to calm the dummy down. Lindy Powell was frantic. And suddenly Kris spoke out to her.
"It's-all-my-fault..." Kris choked out on the ground, as Slappy snickered nastily. "I'm-sorry..."
"That's right!" sneered Slappy maliciously. "You are sorry! And soon your neck will look sorry, you disobedient slave!"
The life from Kris' bright-blue eyes began fade as the air got harder to breathe for her. Suddenly every good memory Lindy shared with her sister began to flash throughout her mind. She remembered their fifth birthday together and their parents bought two different Sesame Street single-layer cakes for the each of them - a Cookie Monster themed cake for Kris, and an Elmo themed for Lindy. She remembered how happy they both were and it being the best birthday ever.
Her mind went to a time when they were eight and a boy threw a fake spider at Kris and scared her. Lindy remembered being so upset that someone hurt her sister's feelings that she pushed the boy into a fire ant hill. She thought about just a few days before they found Slappy that Kris purposefully got another girl in trouble for Lindy because they made fun of Lindy's slightly wide nose and remembering howling with laughter with her sister on the walk home that day...
The moments flashed before Lindy's eyes, and she realized she had to act. Slappy had to go. But how would she get the card?
"Teamwork," thought Lindy. "I have to stun Slappy."
Lindy saw Slappy's head was now facing away from her and Kris was still fading fast, She turned and saw Mr. Wood staring at her to see her next move. But he then rolled his eyes and pointed to the glass saucer on the ground! As quick as she could, Lindy dove for the saucer. Slappy spun to see what Lindy was doing, but was met with a porcelain saucer colliding with his face with a sickening sound of it breaking upon collision.
"GAH!" called out Slappy, as the force of the hit flung him backwards off of Kris.
Slappy covered his face in pain as Mr. Wood howled with laughter at his brother's predicament.
Lindy made her way through the bits of broken porcelain in the carpet and quickly flipped the stunned Slappy over and buried her knees into his back and pinned him down. Slappy growled loudly as she put all of her weight into his back to keep him down. Kris began to cough and stir, much to Lindy's delight.
"Kris! Kris wake up!" called Lindy frantically. "Come and get the card!"
Kris wearily stood up, and crawled over to Slappy slowly. Poor Kris was still weary from nearly passing out from the pain Slappy was putting her through and cutting off her breathing.
The Spirit of Mr. Wood was now watching with delight. Slappy was so close to finally being knocked out, that he could hardly stand it.
"Hurry up!" screeched Mr. Wood. "Put-him-DOWN!"
"Keep-him-down..." croaked Kris, barely able to talk. She then tried go into his pocket but Slappy nipped at her hand, attempting to bite her. The dummy growled loudly again.
"YOU'LL REGRET THIS!" roared Slappy, angrily thrashing his arms and legs. "YOU TWO SLAVES WILL PAY!"
"Rip his jacket off!" cried Lindy, struggling to keep the thrashing dummy down.
"Okay!" cried Kris back to her, her normal tone slightly returning.
Kris grabbed Slappy's dark grey tuxedo jacket around the hole in his back, and tugged as hard as she could. Her strength wasn't back fully, and she struggled against the flailing and screaming dummy and Lindy's full weight being pressed on to bucking and swatting Slappy. But she pulled the jacket has hard as she could muster.
Now the jacket was coming up, and was at his waist. With another tug, the jacket was over the dummy's big round head and was on his arms, exposing Slappy painted-white wooden body. And with a final tug, the jacket was off and Kris landed backwards, with the jacket in hand.
"Quickly find the card!" yelled an excited Mr. Wood. "Kill him quicker!"
"I'm trying, Wood!" shouted Kris as she quickly searched the outside pockets of the dark grey tux jacket.
"THAT IDIOT IS IN HERE?!" growled Slappy, as his head shifted around the room. "I'll get you for this too, you -"
"Urrak irram annodo amoll unolom onarrak!"
"NOOOOOOOO!" Slappy cried out as he began to convulse.
Lindy got off of the dummy's back and the room filled flashing blue streams of light coming from Slappy's eyes and mouth, as Wood watched and cheered in delight. And then as soon as it happened, the blue jets of light stopped flashing and Slappy was lifeless as his cold blue eyes slumped in different directions and his mouth laid agape.
Mr. Wood began to dance and laugh and mock his fallen brother as Kris and Lindy looked on in shock at the lifeless wooden body.
"Is he-?" murmured Lindy, shakily. "Is he really-?"
Kris stood up and stumbled a little. "There's only one way to find out."
Kris gingerly walked over to the pieces of the sandwich that were flung about on the floor, as the bits of broken porcelain were crinkling and crunching under her sneaker as she walked across her carpet.
She then slowly put the sandwich back together and folded it and walked back to the lifeless Slappy. Kris then knelt down by Slappy who still had not moved, as Mr. Wood and Lindy were now watching with interest. Kris yanked Slappy's mouth and shoved the sandwich inside his mouth and up into his hollow head.
Mr. Wood broke into hysterical giggling and was rolling on the Powells' carpeted floor cackling and giggling a loud laugh. Kris smirked and sat back down on her bed with Lindy joining her, laughing a little.
"Thanks Lindy," murmured Kris. "I guess I owe you another one for helping me."
"Nah, don't worry about it," soothed Lindy, putting her arm around her exhausted sister. "You're my sister, Kris. You owe me nothing. I also have an idea."
"What's that?" asked Kris.
"I'm going to let dad pawn Slappy," sighed Lindy, but with a smile. "That way I can pay for all the damage I caused in the kitchen and the food I wasted and get in their good side."
Kris didn't respond, she just hugged her sister tightly. It was over. Slappy's evil slavery was over. And finally the two sisters could go back to a normal-
"Well then," rasped Mr. Wood, floating forward. "I've been doing some thinking girls."
Kris and Lindy groaned.
"You girls have put me in a good mood, I mean a really good mood." the spirit rasped.
Kris and Lindy prepared for the worst, and took a deep breath and scooted closer to each other.
"I'm going to reward you and punish you at the same time." he rasped nastily.
"We just put your brother down, can't you just reward us?" moaned Lindy.
"Shut up!" snapped Mr. Wood, as his face twisted into a rage-filled scowl. "I'm dead because of you two! Don't think I've forgotten about that! Now pipe down and listen Babsie!"
Kris patted her sister's back to calm her down, and straightened her own posture on the bed. "Okay, Mr. Wood. What are you going to do?"
"I like it when a slave chooses to listen," purred Mr. Wood. "I'm going to stop the headaches and be your friend."
Kris and Lindy's jaws both nearly hit the floor. "Really?" they both asked in disbelief.
"I like your girls' spunk," he rasped. "For that I'll be a little...merciful."
Kris now looked curious. "So what's the punishment?"
Mr. Wood then looked deviously sinister as a grin cracked across his face. "Until my essence dissipates outside, we're gonna be clooooose friends."
He giggled and then snapped his fingers. In an instant the Spirit of Mr. Wood was gone. And now, strangely enough, the twins began to physically feel much better! The bruises caused by Slappy were gone, and Kris' neck wasn't sore from Slappy's torque, and both twins were no longer tired. But their good feeling was dashed in an instant. Kris and Lindy then looked at each other and stared in horror.
"Oh no!" wailed Lindy.
"Oh my!" gasped Kris.
Kris' right eye was no longer a matching sky blue with the left. Her right eye was now green, and Lindy's left was as well.
As the two Powells stared at each other in shock, they heard a raspy and hoarse voice in the back of their minds, from inside their heads speak to them in a mocking tone.
"Don't look so sad girls!" cooed Mr. Wood. "We're gonna be best friends until the day I die!"
And somewhere in their minds they heard the dummy laughing hysterically and maniacally.
THE END
A/N: This idea was always in the back of my mind. I wanted to do a story about Kris and Lindy reforming and finally getting on the same page and taking on Slappy forever, but I also REALLY wanted to write for Mr. Wood given that I've written for Mary-Ellen, Wally, (briefly) Goldie, and Slappy. So I hope you enjoyed this small one-shot. There will be many more soon!
As usual, all criticism is welcomed!